Cops granted extension to detain Laing Ave murder suspect

As investigators continue to probe the murder of taxi driver Orin David, the High Court yesterday granted the police more time to detain the suspect who was arrested hours after the attack.

Contacted for a comment yesterday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Stabroek News that the initial detention period for the suspect expired yesterday and the police had applied for an extension, which was granted. They will now have until Monday to either charge the suspect or seek another extension or let him go.

The suspect was positively identified as the owner/driver of the getaway car used to carry out the crime during an ID parade held on Wednesday.

Orin David
Orin David

However, four other persons, including Howard Rambharose and Romel Ross, are wanted for questioning.

David, a taxi driver of Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown, was gunned down on Monday afternoon in front his home after he was approached by two persons known to him. At the time, he was reportedly drinking with some friends and relatives.

He was shot three times about his body and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Stabroek News was told that David had bailed one of his friends out of jail several weeks ago and was told that he was going to get back the money. However, he did not receive full repayment and he became annoyed at the person.

One eyewitness had related to Stabroek News that David and two men were engaged in a conversation away from the drinking and were later seen arguing. “From what I know and heard from… when they come up is that he [David] wanted some money from them because they had owed him,” an eyewitness, who was close to David, related.

“I don’t know exactly what was going on in the argument or what was said or if it was anything more than the money issue but they left and they come back with more men,” the eyewitness related, while pointing out that when the two men returned, two vehicles and two motorcycles with men came with them.

“I don’t know if they came to fight a war or something but one of them had a big gun that he was hiding and I don’t know if they had other people in the car with guns too. When he [David] see them coming, he started walking back to them ’cause is nah like he expect them to shoot he,” the eyewitness had said. It was when David got to the middle of the road that one of the two men pulled out a “big gun” and fired three shots, hitting him.

David, called ‘Plait Hair,’ along with Shawn Anthony Thom, had been charged with the murder of Lakeram Bishundial, who was shot during a robbery at Hope, East Coast Demerara, on August 21, 2010. He was found not guilty of the murder in February last year.